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A random sample of Canadian foster parents were asked about the importance of culture in fostering. In response to the question ''What values, beliefs and traditions were you raised with and feel are important?,'' a total of 74 different responses were received. These responses were grouped together by foster parents and the groupings analyzed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Seven concepts emerged from the groupings, including:(1) spirituality, (2) nationality, (3) personal experience, (4) religion, (5) responsibilities, (6) respect, and (7) right and wrong. These results are compared to the literature. Similarities and differences are noted.

Licensed Canadian foster parents residing in a central province where Aboriginal children have been overrepresented in child protection caseloads and Aboriginal adults under‐represented as caregivers were asked about their experiences fostering children from a different culture than their own during telephone interviews. In response to the question ‘What are the benefits of fostering children who have different values, beliefs and traditions than you?’, 48 unique responses were received. These responses were independently grouped together by foster parents and the groupings analysed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Six concepts emerged. They included learning about a different world view, reflecting on one's own beliefs, an opportunity to share and change, confidence to foster across cultures, humility, and seeing children teach and learn from each other. Similarities and differences between the results and existing research were identified and research implications were described.

There is a considerable amount of research on the challenges associated with parenting children who have disabilities, and little that focuses on positive aspects. The purpose of the study was to describe the rewards of parents of children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Nineteen birth, foster or adoptive parents were asked to answer the following question: "What are the rewards of parenting a child with a FASD?" The data were analyzed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Four clusters resulted. Parents indicated that they saw the children's effort, growth, and accomplishment in a variety of domains as encouraging. Parents also reported feeling appreciated by the children. Results suggest that rewarding parenting experiences with children who have alcohol-related disabilities are multiple, diverse and, when compared to the literature, largely consistent. The results lend credibility to the existing literature on the rewards of parenting children with developmental disabilities, and FASD in particular.Keywords: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, parenting, rewards.Prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing fetus can result in multiple lifelong effects [1]. These effects vary with amount, duration and timing of alcohol consumption, the general health of the mother, as well as genetic factors [2][3]. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is characterized by craniofacial abnormalities, prenatal and/or postnatal growth restriction, and central nervous system impairment [4]. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that encompasses the complete spectrum of effects resulting from alcohol use during pregnancy [2,5,6]. FASD includes a range of diagnostic terms from FAS, to categories that include some of the features such as fetal alcohol effects, prenatal alcohol effects, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol related birth defects (ARBD) and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder [7][8][9].A range of factors influences the ascertainment and diagnosis of FASD, and therefore its frequency has been difficult to determine [10]. Estimated prevalence of FAS in the United States ranges between 0.5 -2 per 1000 live births and the rate of FASD between 9-10 per 1000 live births [10,11]. It has been estimated that the total of people with FASD in the United States exceeds 2.6 million [12]. Although Canadian studies have estimated the prevalence of FASD in small populations, there are currently no national data [5].Children with an FASD diagnosis may experience medical complications related to hearing, speech and vision [3]. In addition, neurodevelopmental delays, most commonly in the forms of intellectual and attention-related disabilities [13][14][15], are present. In addition to these primary disabilities, children with FASD are also at high risk for the development of secondary disabilities. Secondary disabilities are those that a person is not born with and could potentially be ameliorated through intervention [16]. Streissguth and colleagues *Address correspondence to th...

It is important to understand how cultural values, beliefs and traditions of foster parents are related to placement success because a substantial proportion of children in care come from culturally diverse backgrounds. In the present study participants were asked about resources they saw as necessary to improve their confidence fostering children from culturally diverse backgrounds. Sixty-one foster parents from a central Canadian province participated in a telephone interview that included the question: ''what would help you feel more confident about fostering children with different values, beliefs and traditions?'' A total of 35 unique responses were obtained and grouped together by 13 foster parents. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were used to analyze the grouping data. Foster parents described six themes: understanding different cultures, training, self awareness, agency support, open discussion and community services. There were several similarities and differences between the perspectives of foster parents interviewed and the literature. Implications for future research are discussed.